The life of Samuel Matthews, The Norwood Hermit. : Being curious particulars of his misfortunes, & strange propensity, the manner of his living, and anecdotes exemplary of his character: likewise, the authentic account of the tragical termination of his existence.

Date:
[1803?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The life of Samuel Matthews, The Norwood Hermit. : Being curious particulars of his misfortunes, & strange propensity, the manner of his living, and anecdotes exemplary of his character: likewise, the authentic account of the tragical termination of his existence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    He endeavored to gain that sufficiency by at- tending the gardens of the different gentlemen about his neighbourhood, with such steady per- severance as quite conciliated their esteem. He had, as may be observed, a peculiar wildness in his discourse, and being possessed of unimpeach- able integrity, his company^was never shunned, even by the gentry that employed him. The misfortune he had experienced wrought the idea strongly, that he should be starved to death ; but the liberal encouragement he met from those gentlemen who employed him, dispelled those fears, and greatly consoled him for his former apprehension, previous to which, the operations of his thoughts so strangely affected liim, that he was often discovered in tears. A person having once found him in that dis* consulate mood, asked him if he was not well, he answered in his well-known manner, “I don’ know, I don’ know,” and seemed very much em- barrassed in his answer;—the person, who was a particular friend, again said to him, “Why Master Alatthews, I think something must be the matter with you, you look very poorly in- deed,” or words similar, but poor Matthews shook his head, and said, “No, no, something, something, I can’t tell,” then he walked about with one hand in his bosom and the other in bis
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